Rotary anvil construction

ABSTRACT

A rotary anvil construction is provided which is comprised of a cylindrical anvil which has a die-cutting mat which is readily attached thereon and detached therefrom through the use of a locking wedge which provides its locking action by rotation thereof about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said construction.

United States Patent 1 Duckett et al.

1 1 ROTARY ANVIL CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventors: John C. Duckett; RufusNeal Ensley,

both of Clyde, NC.

[73] Assignee: Dayco Corporation, Dayton, Ohio [22] Filed: July 22, 1974[21] Appl. No.: 490,458

[52] US. Cl. 83/659; 83/347; 83/698 [51] Int. Cl B26d 7/20; 826d 7/26[58] Field of Search 83/659, 331, 356.3, 346,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,111,895 11/1963 Kraft eta1 83/698 X [4 1 May 13, 1975 Sauer 83/659 X Duckett et a1. 83/659Primary E.\'uminerWi1lie G. Abercrombie [5. ABSTRACT A rotary anvilconstruction is provided which is comprised of a cylindrical anvil whichhas a die-cutting mat which is readily attached thereon and detachedtherefrom through the use of a locking wedge which provides its lockingaction by rotation thereof about an axis substantially parallel to theaxis of said construction.

20 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures SHEET 10F 2 PATENTED MAY 31975 1 ROTARYANVIL CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Rotary anvilconstructions which utilize die-cutting mats and are attached by variousmeans against the outside surfaces of associated anvils are in wide usethroughout industry. Many of these previously proposed anvilconstructions are unnecessarily complex and expensive while others havemats which are very difficult to install and remove from theirassociated rotary anvilsl In U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,675, applicants haveproposed a simple rotary anvil construction which overcomes many of thedeficiencies of the previously proposed anvil constructions; however,applicants have found that it is desirable to provide a rotary anvilconstruction in which the wedge used to hold the die-holding mat can beinstalled into position more easily yet without impairing the ability ofthe mat to be held in position in a firm and secure manner.

SUMMARY This invention provides an improved rotary anvil constructionwhich employs a die-cutting mat which is readily installed on andremoved from an associated rotary anvil in a minimum of time. Thedie-cutting mat is held on its rotary anvil so that a single rectilinearline contact is provided between its end portions and such line extendslongitudinally across the anvil. The rotary anvil construction employs alocking wedge which may be provided as a separate member or as anintegral part of the rotary anvil and such wedge is locked in positionto fasten the mat in position by rotation thereof about an axissubstantially parallel to the axis of the construction.

Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will be readilyapparent from the exemplary embodiments thereof presented in thefollowing specification, claims, and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings show presentexemplary embodiments of this invention, in which FIG. 1 is afragmentary perspective view of a rotary anvil construction of thisinvention having an easily installed and removed die-cutting mat;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end view taken essentially on the line2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are fragmentary perspective views illustrating aseries of steps which may be employed to install and lock thedie-cutting mat of FIG. 1 in position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating another exemplaryembodiment of rotary anvil construction of this invention which has awedge thereof rotatably supported by a U-shaped insert which isdetachably fixed to the rotary anvil;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the U- shaped member of FIG. 7with its wedge and support means for such wedge;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 4 illustratingone of the first of a series of method steps which may be employed toinstall and lock the die-cutting mat of FIG. 7 in position;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view taken essentially on the line 10-10 of FIG.9; and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 illustrating the rotatable lockingwedge rotated into its locking position.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made of FIG. 1of the drawing which illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a rotaryanvil construction 20 of this invention. The anvil construction 20 isparticularly adapted to be used with an associated rotary cutter orcylinder (not shown) having cutting means or blades thereon and theanvil construction 20 serves as a backup allowing the blades of suchrotary cutter to be urged against a workpiece which is to be cut, suchas a sheet of either plain or corrugated paper, or other suitable sheetmaterial so that the cutting may be achieved without jagged edges.

The rotary anvil construction 20 comprises a rotary anvil or cylinder 21having an outer substantially cylindrical surface 22 and having a pairof spaced holding surfaces 23 extending inwardly from the surface 22 andthe surfaces 23 define opposed side walls of longitudinal groove 24which extends along the full length of the cylinder 21 in substantiallyparallel relation to the central longitudinal axis 25 of such cylinder.The cylinder 21 may be made of any suitable material and is preferablymade of a rigid material such as metal.

The construction 20 comprises a die-cutting mat 26 which has an insidesurface 27, a pair of opposite end portions 30, and a pair of lockinglips or flanges 31 and 32, FIG. 2. Each flange 31 and 32 extends fromthe terminal end of its associated end portion 30 and the flanges 31 and32 have channels 33 and 34 respectively therein each extending acrossthe full width of its flange with each channel being particularlyadapted to receive at least a portion of a locking wedge 35 which isused to lock the mat 26 in position.

One of the channels, channel 34 of this example, has a cross-sectionalconfiguration which corresponds to the cross-sectional configuration ofthe wedge and channel 34 is slightly larger in area than thecrosssectional area of wedge which allows easy insertion of the wedgealong the full length of the channel 34 and hence the flanges 31 and 32.The other channel 33 has a cross-sectional area which corresponds toapproximately one half of the cross-sectional area of the wedge 35 andthe channels 33 and 34 are made and sized so that with the wedge 35arranged with its major axis substantially perpendicular to the holdingsurfaces 23 opposed ends thereof, defining its comparatively largedimension 36, urge the flanges 31 and 32 tightly against the holdingsurfaces 23 to lock the mat 26 firmly against the outside cylindricalsurface 22 of cylinder 21. Simultaneously with this locking action thewedge 35 moves outer edges 37 of the mat 26 firmly against each other toprovide a single line junction or contact 40 therebetween, see FIG. 1,and such line contact comprises a rectilinear line contact. During theprocess of wedging the flanges 31 and 32 firmly in position, it will beseen that the wedge 35 partially compresses the lower portions of theflanges 31 and 32, as illustrated at 41 in FIG. 2, while urging andslightly compressing the edges 37 against each other to assure theprovision of the single line contact 22 and such single line coincidessubstantially precisely (i.e., free of bulges or indentations) with aright circular cylindrical outside surface 42 defined by the outsidesurface of the mat 26 once it is installed in position, see FIG. 6.

The cylindrical rotary anvil or cylinder 21 has an insert 43 ofsubstantially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration fixed within theperipheral cylindrical outside surface 22 of the anvil 21 and extendingthe full length of such anvil, see FIGS. l4. The insert 43 has aU-shaped configuration, when viewed from an end thereof or incross-section, a defined by a bight 44 and a pair of outwardly extendingleg portions 45 with the leg portions 45 having outer surface portions46 which comprise the substantially cylindrical surface 22 of cylinder21. The insert 43 has a pair of spaced transverse planar surfaces eachadjoining an associated one of the surface portions 46 and such planartransverse surfaces define the holding surfaces 23 of cylinder 21.

The holding surfaces 23 diverge toward the longitudinal axis 25 of thecylinder 11 and are arranged in what might be considered a dovetailedmanner whereby once the wedge 35 is installed in position the mat 26 isheld firmly against the cylinder 21 for normal operation of the anvilconstruction 20.

As seen from FIG. 2, the flanges 31-32 extend substantiallyperpendicularly from the end portions 30 and each flange 3l32 has aheight 47 which is less than the depth 50 of the groove 24, FIG. 4, soonce the wedge positions the flanges 3132 in the manner illustrated inFIG. 6, the flanges are urged against the diverging holding surfaces 23and the flanges 3132 and wedge 35 define a dovetailed structure whichcooperates with the dovetailed arrangement of the holding surfaces 23yet there is minimal contact between the terminal ends 51 of the flanges31-32 and the fixed insert 43 whereby there is minimum contact betweenthe flange ends 51 and cylinder 21. This minimum contact, if any, isonly at corner portions 52 of ends 51 and assures that there is notendency for forces to act in a direction perpendicular the longitudinalaxis 25 of cylinder 21 whereby there is no tendancy to move the flangesradially outwardly away from such longitudinal axis, see FIG. 2.

The mat 26 has its inside surface 27 and each of the flanges 3l32 hasits channel 33-34 extending inwardly therein from its outer surfaces 54.Each channel 33-34 extends across the full width of its flange and isspaced from the inside surface 27 by a distance indicated at 55. Thechannels 3334 are arranged in aligned relation with the mat 26 installedin position and cooperate to receive the wedge 35 therethrough so thatwedge 35 tightens and locks the mat against the anvil 21 andsimultaneously moves the outer edges 37 in position to define the singleline contact between edges 37.

The mat 26 has a bottom sheet-like portion or backing sheet 56 whichdefines the portion thereof which is held against the cylindricalsurface 22 of the cylinder 21 and the sheet-like portion 56 ispreferably made of a suitable metallic material and has an exposedsurface which defines the inside surface 27 of the mat 26. The metalbacking sheet 56 assures that the mat 26 maintains its form under alloperating and storage conditions; however, it will be appreciated thatthe mat 26 need not necessarily have the backing sheet 56 provided as anintegral part thereof whereby it may be comprised entirely of a suitableelastomeric material which may be reinforced with a suitable wovenmaterial or other suitable reinforcing means,

The rotatable locking wedge 35 of this exemplary embodiment of theinvention has a roughly elliptical cross-sectional configuration and isshown as being of solid cross section throughout; however, it will beappreciated that such wedge may be tubular having a uniform wallthickness about its outer periphery or may be tubular having a rightcylindrical bore extending therethrough.

The channel 34 provided in the flange 32 also has a roughly ellipticalconfiguration when viewed from an end thereof or when viewed at anycross section therealong perpendicular to its longitudinal axis and theelliptical configuration of the channel 34 is such that the roughlyelliptical wedge 35 may be easily inserted therealong and once suchwedge 35 has been extended along the full length of the channel 34 it isready to be locked in position simply by rotation thereof approximatelyas will be described in more detail subsequently. It will also be seenthat the channel 33 in the flange 31 has what may be considered asubstantially semielliptical end or cross-sectional configuration.

By the mere fact that the wedge 35 is substantially elliptical incross-sectional configuration, it has its comparatively large dimension36 along what may be considered its major axis and a comparativelysmaller or narrower dimension 60 along its minor axis with the major andminor axes being in accordance with known nomenclature of an ellipse.

The flanges 3l32 are made as an integral part of the mat 26 and of thesame compressible resilient elastomeric material; and, as seen in FIG.2, the flanges 3l32 have cooperating recess means designated generallyby the reference numeral 61 adjoining at least one end of the channels33 and 34 and the recess means 61 in this example is shown as a pair ofsubstantially semicylindrical cutouts 62 in each flange 3l32. The recessmeans 61, comprised of semicylindrical cutouts 62, is particularlyadapted to receive a tool, such as a tool T illustrated in FIG. 5, toprovide 90 rotation of the elliptical wedge to provide the uniquelocking action as will be described subsequently. It will be appreciatedthat the recess means 61 may be provided only at one end of thecooperating flanges 3l32 or at both ends thereof.

Having presented the detailed description of the anvil construction 20,the presentation will now proceed with the manner in which the mat 26may be simply installed on the cylinder or anvil 21 and for thisdescription particular reference is made to FIGS. 2-5 of the drawings.The mat is positioned as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings with oneof its flanges, shown as the flange 31, positioned within the groove 24whereupon the mat 26 is wrapped around cylindrical surface 22 so thatits other flange 32 is arranged above groove 24 in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 3. The other flange 32 is then inserted in positionwithin groove 24 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4 whereby the flanges3132 are arranged within groove 24 with their respective channels 33 and34 in substantially aligned relation. The elliptical wedge 35 ispreferably slightly smaller in crosssectional area or very nearly thesame cross-sectional area as the channel 34 so that it may be easilyaxially inserted in channel 34 until it extends the full length of theflanges 3132 and an end portion 63 thereof is within recess means 61.

As previously mentioned, the wedge 35 has a comparatively smalldimension 60 across its minor axis and thus is easily adapted to beinitially arranged between the flanges 3l32 and indeed in this exampleextends along the comparatively larger elliptical channel 34.

The wedge 35 is adapted to be rotated approximately 90 to position itsmajor axis and hence the comparatively large dimension 36 thereofsubstantially perpendicular to the holding surfaces 23 thereby urgingthe flanges 31-32 tightly against such holding surfaces to tighten andlock the mat 26 against the rotary anvil 21.

The tool T has an end portion 64 which is of roughly tubular ellipticalcross-sectional configuration which is adapted to surround end portion63 of the wedge 35 and the end 64 is adapted to be received within therecess means 61 whereupon the end of a handle 65 of the tool T isgrasped and the tool T rotated either clockwise or counterclockwiseroughly 90 to thereby urge the flanges 31-32 tightly against the holdingsurfaces 23 thereby partially compressing the flanges 31-32 and lockingthe mat 26 in position.

It is a simple matter to remove the mat 26 by, in essence, following thereverse of the above-described procedure whereupon tool T is used toagain rotate wedge 35 through an angular increment of roughly 90enabling easy extraction of such wedge from within the ellipticalchannel 34 and such extraction may be achieved by engaging the end ofthe wedge 35 with a screw driver, or the like, until a sufficient lengthof the wedge 35 is pushed out from the channel 34 allowing easy graspingthereof and extraction of such wedge. It will be appreciated that thewedge 35 has a length substantially equal to, though less than, thecorresponding dimension of the flanges 31-32.

Another exemplary embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIGS.7-11 of the drawings. The anvil construction of FIGS. 7-11 is verysimilar to the anvil construction therefore, such anvil constructionwill be designated generally by the reference numeral 20A and partsthereof which are similar to corresponding parts of the anvilconstruction 20 will be designated by the same reference numeral as inthe anvil construction 20 also followed by the letter designated A andnot described again in detail. Only those component parts which aresubstantially different from corresponding parts of the anvilconstruction 20 will be designated by a new reference numeral alsofollowed by the letter designation A and described in detail.

The main difference between the anvil construction 20 and the anvilconstruction 20A is that instead of having a rotatable locking wedgeewhich is a separate removable component part as is wedge 35, the anvilconstruction 20A has a wedge which is also designated generally by thereference numeral 35A but which is supported in a fixed position in thegroove 24A of the rotary anvil 21A and is a part of its substantially U-shaped insert 43A, see FIGS. 7 8 and 10. The insert 43A extendssubstantially the full axial dimension of the rotary anvil orcylindrical 21A and such U-shaped insert is defined by a bight 44A and apair of outwardly extending leg portions 45A extending from oppositeends of such bight.

The U-shaped insert 43A is adapted to be and is detachably fixed to therotary anvil 21A and has means designated generally by the referencenumeral 66A rotatably supporting the wedge 35A in a fixed position onthe U-shaped insert 43A; and, with the insert 43A being fixed on theanvil 21A such means 66A rotatably supporting the wedge 35A effectivelyrotatably supports wedge 35A in a fixed position on the anvil 21A.

The means 66A rotatably supporting the wedge 35A comprises a pluralityof post-like members 67A which may be provided as either an integralpart of the member 43A or be suitably detachably fixed to its bight 44A;and, the postlike members 67A extend from the central part of the bight44A and each has bearing means 70A fixed thereto. The bearing means 70Amay have a suitable anti-friction surface 71A which is particularlyadapted to receive the outside surface of the rotatable substantiallyright circular cylindrical member or rod 72A.

The rod 72A carries the wedge 35A and in this example, it will be seenthat the wedge 35A is comprised of a plurality of sections or lengthseach designated by the same reference numeral 73A even though sections73A are of different lengths. The sections 73A are suitably fixed atspaced intervals along the rod 72A by any suitable means such asdetachable set screws, adhesive means, welding, or the like.

It is a simple matter to install the die cutting mat 26A in position andinstallation is substantially similar to the installation of the mat 26and in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3-5. In particular, the flanges31A and 32A are installed in position in the manner illustrated in FIG.9 whereupon it will be seen that the wedge 35A and hence componentportions 73A are arranged so that the minor axis of the rotatable fixedwedge 35A is initially arranged between flanges 3lA-32A with the minoraxis substantially perpendicular to the flanges and in a fixed position.The tool T is again employed by inserting the end 64 thereof around endportion 63 of the wedge 35A whereupon tool handle 65 is grasped androtated either clockwise or counterclockwise in a similar manner asdescribed previously for the construction 20 whereupon the comparativelylarge dimension 36A, i.e., along the major axis the elliptical wedge35A, is urged against the flanges 31A and 32A urging such flangestightly against the holding surfaces 23A to tighten and lock the mat 26Aagainst the anvil 21A while simultaneously moving associated outer edges37A of the mat firmly against each other whereby a single line contact40A is provided.

Removal of the mat 26A is achieved following the reverse procedurewhereupon the tool T is installed in position and the rotatableelliptical wedge 35A is rotated 90 whereby, in essence, the smalldimension 60A along the minor axis of the rotatable wedge 35A isarranged perpendicular to the holding surfaces 23A enabling the flanges31A and 32A to be easily withdrawn from the groove 24A and the mat 26Aremoved.

It should be noted that the flanges 31A-32A of the mat 26A havesubstantially identical channels which will be designated by thereference numeral 70A and such channels are of roughly semiellipticalconfiguration when viewed from an end or at any cross sectiontherealong.

In this disclosure of the invention, the rotatable wedge 35 and 35A havebeen illustrated and described as having a substantially ellipticalcross-sectional configuration; however, it is to be understood that suchwedges may have any other suitable cross-sectional configurationprovided that each wedge, in essence, has an eccentric arrangement witha major and a minor axis and with the dimension along the major axisthereof being large when compared to the dimension along the minor axis.Such a wedge would then be positioned with its small dimension extendingbetween associated flanges of the die-cutting mat whereupon such a wedgewould then be rotated roughly 90, or other suitable angular increment,bringing its larger dimension into camming engagement against surfaceportions of the flanges of such mat to provide a unique locking actionsimply by rotation of the rotatable wedge. The unlocking of the wedge isalso achieved by simple rotation thereof facilitating easy removal ofsuch wedge.

in this disclosure of the invention. the wedges 35 and 35A have beenshown and described as having comparatively smooth outside surfaces ofarcuate or curvilinear configuration; however, it will be appreciatedthat the rotatable wedge need not necessarily be as shown herein but maybe of approximately rectangular crosssectional configuration defined bya series of cooperating planar surfaces.

In this disclosure, the wedges 35 and 35A have been shown as beingrotatably cammed into locking engagement using a tool T which in eachinstance has a portion 64 which surrounds an associated end portion ofthe wedge and a roughly 90 rotation is provided. However, it will beappreciated that either wedge 35 or 35A may be provided with slots orthe like therein which may be adapted to receive a suitable tooltherewithin thereby eliminating the need to provide a recess means suchas recess means 61 or 61A in the flanges of the associated mats either26 or 26A. For example, such a slotted wedge may have slots suitable forreceiving Phillips head type screw driver or an Allen head type wrench.

In this disclosure of the invention the rotary anvil or cylinder 21 ofthe anvil construction is shown provided with insert 43 which hasholding surfaces 23 provided on such insert; however, it will beappreciated that the surfaces 23 may be provided on the cylinder 21directly without requiring an insert.

Similarly in the anvil construction 20A the insert 43A may beeliminated, if desired, and means 66A used to support the wedge A in afixed position directly on the cylinder 21A.

The mat of this invention may be made of any suitable elastomericmaterial which is capable of being used in association with a rotarycutter; and, it has been found such mat may be of any suitable polymersuch as polyurethane, or a suitable rubber compound whether natural orsynthetic rubber.

While present exemplary embodiments of this invention, and methods ofpracticing the same, have been illustrated and described, it will berecognized that this invention may be otherwise variously embodied andpracticed within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination: a rotary anvil having an outer substantiallycylindrical surface and having a pair of spaced holding surfacesextending inwardly from said cylindrical surface and defining opposedwalls of a longitudinal groove in said anvil, a die-cutting mat made ofa compressible resilient elastomeric material attached against saidanvil, said mat comprising a main central portion having opposite endportions provided with a pair of identical locking flanges extendingfrom said end portions and being received within said groove, and awedge between said flanges, said wedge having a major and aminor-sectional axis, said wedge having a comparatively large dimensionacross its major axis and being arranged substantially perpendicularsaid holding surfaces and thereby urging said flanges tightly againstsaid holding surfaces to tighten and lock said mat against said anvilwhile simultaneously moving associated outer edges of said mat firmlyagainst each other to provide a single line contact therebetwcen, saidwedge having a comparatively small dimension across its minor axis andthus being adapted to be initially arranged between said flanges withits minor axis substantially perpendicular thereto. said wedge beingadapted to be rotated approximately to position its major axis andcomparatively large dimension in said perpendicular arrangement.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said flanges extendsubstantially perpendicularly from said end portions and each of saidflanges has a channel therein extending across its full width which isparticu larly adapted to receive at least a portion of said wedge.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which one of said channelshas a configuration which corresponds to and is larger incross-sectional area than the crosssectional area of said Wedge to alloweasy insertion of said wedge axially along said one channel and theother of said channels has a configuration which corresponds to and isapproximately one-half of the cross-sectional area of said wedge, sothat with said wedge rotated with its major axis substantiallyperpendicular said holding surfaces said comparatively large dimensionthereof urges said flanges tightly against said holding surfaces.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising meansrotatably supporting said wedge in a fixed position in said groove ofsaid anvil.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising aninsert of substantially U-shaped crosssectional configuration fixedwithin the peripheral outline of said anvil and extending the full axialdimension thereof, said insert having a pair of surface portionscomprising said substantially cylindrical surface and having a pair ofplanar surfaces each adjoining an associated one of said surfaceportions and defining said holding surfaces of said longitudinal groove.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said U-shaped inserthas means rotatably supporting said wedge in a fixed position on saidanvil.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 in which said U-shaped supporthas a bight and a pair of legs extending outwardly from opposite ends ofsaid bight, said means rotatably supporting comprising a plurality ofspaced post-like members extending from the central part of said bight.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said wedge has aroughly elliptical cross-sectional configuration, one channel has acorresponding elliptical cross-sectional configuration and said otherchannel has a substantially semielliptical cross-sectionalconfiguration.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which each of said channelshas a substantially semielliptical crosssectional configuration acrossits full width which is particularly adapted to receive at least aportion of said wedge and said wedge has an elliptical cross-sectionalconfiguration.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said flanges are madeas an integral part of said mat of the same compressible resilientelastomeric material and said flanges have cooperating recess meansadjoining at least one end of said channels, said recess means beingadapted to receive a tool used to provide said 90 rotation of saidwedge.

11. A combination as set forth in claim in which said recess means is inthe form of a pair of substantially semicylindrical cutouts in eachflange.

12. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said wedge iscomprised of a plurality of spaced substantially semielliptical sectionsextending across the full length of said rotary anvil 13. A combinationas set forth in claim 2 in which said planar holding surfaces divergetoward a longitudinal axis extending through said anvil in a dovetailedmanner.

14. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said wedge is ofsolid substantially elliptical crosssectional configuration throughoutits length.

15. A combination: a rotary anvil having an outer substantiallycylindrical surface and having a pair of spaced holding surfacesextending inwardly from said cylindrical surface and defining opposedwalls of a longitudinal groove in said anvil, a die-cutting mat made ofa compressible resilient elastomeric material attached against saidanvil, said mat comprising a main central portion having opposite endportions provided with a pair of identical locking flanges extendingfrom said end portions and being received within said groove, a wedgebetween said flanges, said wedge having a major and a minorcross-sectional axis, said wedge having a comparatively large dimensionacross its major axis and being arranged substantially perpendicularsaid holding surfaces and thereby urging said flanges tightly againstsaid holding surfaces to tighten and lock said mat against said anvilwhile simultaneously moving associated outer edges of said mat firmlyagainst each other to provide a single line contact therebetween, saidwedge having a comparatively small dimension across its minor axis andthus being adapted to be initially arranged between said flanges withits minor axis substantially perpendicular thereto, said wedge beingadapted to be rotated approximately 90 to position its major axis andcomparatively large dimension in said perpendicular arrangement, and aninsert of substantially U-shaped crossscctional configuration fixedwithin the peripheral outline of said anvil and extending the full axialdimension thereof. said insert having a pair of surface portionscomprising said substantially cylindrical surface and having a pair ofplanar surfaces each adjoining an associated one of said surfaceportions and defining said holding surfaces of said longitudinal groove16. A combination as set forth in claim 15 in which said U-shaped inserthas means rotatably supporting said wedge in a fixed position on saidanvil.

17. A combination as set forth in claim 16 in which said flanges extendsubstantially perpendicularly from said end portions and have a heightwhich is less than the depth of said groove so that said wedge positionssaid flanges against said diverging holding surfaces with minimumcontact between the terminal ends of said flanges and said anvil.

18. A combination as set forth in claim 17 in which said mat has aninside surface and each of said flanges has a channel therein extendingacross its full width and spaced from said inside surfaces with each ofsaid channels receiving a portion of said wedge therein.

19. A combination as set forth in claim 18 in which said U-shapedsupport has a bight and a pair of legs extending outwardly from oppositeends of said bight, said means rotatably supporting comprising aplurality of spaced post-like members extending from the central part ofsaid bight.

20. A combination as set forth in claim 19 in which means rotatablysupporting comprises a rod extending substantially the full length ofsaid anvil while being rotatably supported by said post-like members andsaid wedge is comprised of a plurality of spaced sections detachablyfixed around said rod adjacent said post-like

1. In combination: a rotary anvil having an outer substantiallycylindrical surface and having a pair of spaced holding surfacesextending inwardly from said cylindrical surface and defining opposedwalls of a longitudinal groove in said anvil, a diecutting mat made of acompressible resilient elastomeric material attached against said anvil,said mat comprising a main central portion having opposite end portionsprovided with a pair of identical locking flanges extending from saidend portions and being received within said groove, and a wedge betweensaid flanges, said wedge having a major and a minor-sectional axis, saidwedge having a comparatively large dimension across its major axis andbeing arranged substantially perpendicular said holding surfaces andthereby urging said flanges tightly against said holding surfaces totighten and lock said mat against said anvil while simultaneously movingassociated outer edges of said mat firmly against each other to providea single line contact therebetween, said wedge having a comparativelysmall dimension across its minor axis and thus being adapted to beinitially arranged between said flanges with its minor axissubstantially perpendicular thereto, said wedge being adapted to berotated approximately 90* to position its major axis and comparativelylarge dimension in said perpendicular arrangement.
 2. A combination asset forth in claim 1 in which said flanges extend substantiallyperpendicularly from said end portions and each of said flanges has achannel therein extending across its full width which is particularlyadapted to receive at least a portion of said wedge.
 3. A combination asset forth in claim 2 in which one of said channels has a configurationwhich corresponds to and is larger in cross-sectional area than thecross-sectional area of said wedge to allow easy insertion of said wedgeaxially along said one channel and the other of said channels has aconfiguration which corresponds to and is approximately one-half of thecross-sectional area of said wedge, so that with said wedge rotated withits major axis substantially perpendicular said holding surfaces saidcomparatively large dimension thereof urges said flanges tightly againstsaid holding surfaces.
 4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 andfurther comprising means rotatably supporting said wedge in a fixedposition in said groove of said anvil.
 5. A combination as set forth inclaim 1 and further comprising an insert of substantially U-shapedcross-sectional configuration fixed within the peripheral outline ofsaid anvil and extending the full axial dimension thereof, said inserthaving a pair of surface portions comprising said substantiallycylindrical surface and having a pair of planar surfaces each adjoiningan associated one of said surface portions and defining said holdingsurfaces of said longitudinal groove.
 6. A combination as set forth inclaim 5 in which said U-shaped insert has means rotatably supportingsaid wedge in a fixed position on said anvil.
 7. A combination as setforth in claim 6 in which said U-shaped support has a bight and a pairof legs extending outwardly from opposite ends of said bight, said meansrotatably supporting comprising a plurality of spaced post-like membersextending from the central part of said bight.
 8. A combination as setforth in claim 3 in which said wedge has a roughly ellipticalcross-sectional configuration, one channel has a correspondingelliptical cross-sectional configuration and said other channel has asubstantially semielliptical cross-sectional configuration.
 9. Acombination as set forth in claim 2 in which each of said channels has asubstantially semielliptical cross-sectional configuration across itsfull width which is particularly adapted to receive at least a portionof said wedge and said wedge has an elliptical cross-sectionaLconfiguration.
 10. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which saidflanges are made as an integral part of said mat of the samecompressible resilient elastomeric material and said flanges havecooperating recess means adjoining at least one end of said channels,said recess means being adapted to receive a tool used to provide said90* rotation of said wedge.
 11. A combination as set forth in claim 10in which said recess means is in the form of a pair of substantiallysemicylindrical cutouts in each flange.
 12. A combination as set forthin claim 1 in which said wedge is comprised of a plurality of spacedsubstantially semielliptical sections extending across the full lengthof said rotary anvil.
 13. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in whichsaid planar holding surfaces diverge toward a longitudinal axisextending through said anvil in a dovetailed manner.
 14. A combinationas set forth in claim 2 in which said wedge is of solid substantiallyelliptical cross-sectional configuration throughout its length.
 15. Acombination: a rotary anvil having an outer substantially cylindricalsurface and having a pair of spaced holding surfaces extending inwardlyfrom said cylindrical surface and defining opposed walls of alongitudinal groove in said anvil, a die-cutting mat made of acompressible resilient elastomeric material attached against said anvil,said mat comprising a main central portion having opposite end portionsprovided with a pair of identical locking flanges extending from saidend portions and being received within said groove, a wedge between saidflanges, said wedge having a major and a minor cross-sectional axis,said wedge having a comparatively large dimension across its major axisand being arranged substantially perpendicular said holding surfaces andthereby urging said flanges tightly against said holding surfaces totighten and lock said mat against said anvil while simultaneously movingassociated outer edges of said mat firmly against each other to providea single line contact therebetween, said wedge having a comparativelysmall dimension across its minor axis and thus being adapted to beinitially arranged between said flanges with its minor axissubstantially perpendicular thereto, said wedge being adapted to berotated approximately 90* to position its major axis and comparativelylarge dimension in said perpendicular arrangement, and an insert ofsubstantially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration fixed within theperipheral outline of said anvil and extending the full axial dimensionthereof, said insert having a pair of surface portions comprising saidsubstantially cylindrical surface and having a pair of planar surfaceseach adjoining an associated one of said surface portions and definingsaid holding surfaces of said longitudinal groove.
 16. A combination asset forth in claim 15 in which said U-shaped insert has means rotatablysupporting said wedge in a fixed position on said anvil.
 17. Acombination as set forth in claim 16 in which said flanges extendsubstantially perpendicularly from said end portions and have a heightwhich is less than the depth of said groove so that said wedge positionssaid flanges against said diverging holding surfaces with minimumcontact between the terminal ends of said flanges and said anvil.
 18. Acombination as set forth in claim 17 in which said mat has an insidesurface and each of said flanges has a channel therein extending acrossits full width and spaced from said inside surfaces with each of saidchannels receiving a portion of said wedge therein.
 19. A combination asset forth in claim 18 in which said U-shaped support has a bight and apair of legs extending outwardly from opposite ends of said bight, saidmeans rotatably supporting comprising a plurality of spaced post-likemembers extending from the central part of said bight.
 20. A combinationas set forth in claim 19 in which means rotatably supporting comprises arod exteNding substantially the full length of said anvil while beingrotatably supported by said post-like members and said wedge iscomprised of a plurality of spaced sections detachably fixed around saidrod adjacent said post-like members.